diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e9d6b777d28..23d84adc0b0 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1935,7 +1935,7 @@ endif
 
 dep_elf = dependency('libelf', required : false)
 if not with_platform_windows and not dep_elf.found()
-  dep_elf = cc.find_library('elf')
+  dep_elf = cc.find_library('elf', required : false)
 endif
 if dep_elf.found()
   pre_args += '-DUSE_LIBELF'